Ahead of a bout which features two titles, Phikelelani ‘Stinger’ Khumalo has promised his fans that his hand will be raised in victory after he had gone to battle against DonJuan van Heerden in his next fight.
Khumalo, who is the current South African middleweight champion, faces Van Heerden, the African Boxing Union (ABU) titlist, at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 29 November. Both boxers’ titles are going to be at stake during their 12 rounds shootout.
“I’m ready to face Van Heerden and I’m definitely going to win this fight. My preparations have gone very well and I had a four weeks camp, training at Hot Box Gym in Johannesburg. I’m back in Durban now and will return to Johannesburg for the fight next week,” Khumalo said.
Khumalo will be lacing his gloves for the first time since he halted Alexandra-born John Bopape’s three-year dominance over KwaZulu-Natal boxers. The lad from Mthwalume, south of Durban, defeated Bopape via a unanimous points decision at the Estcourt Town Hall, KwaZulu-Natal, in March this year.
Meanwhile, Van Heerden became the new ABU middleweight champion after Dean Promnick failed to answer to the bell at the beginning of the 10th round during their clash early in August. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
